I May Be A Villainess, But I Won't Live My Life That Way - Chapter 47

Chapter 47

It was a long-awaited evening gathering.

Part of it was because I hadn’t received any plausible invitations for a while, but it was also because I had been consciously avoiding social gatherings.

However, this evening gathering was one I couldn’t miss.

“Whenever I hear stories of Marquis Wensbury’s adventures, it’s always fascinating.”

“Oh, well. I always speak like this, even in front of sophisticated ladies. Can’t help it.”

“No, it’s not that. The battles you participated in, Marquis Wensbury, are a page in the history of Sprendo. I thoroughly enjoyed listening.”

“Now that Miss Bianca has wrapped it up in such a way, I can talk a little more freely; and, all of you, if you are tired of my tales afterward, address your grumblings and resentments to Miss Bianca, not to me.”

Laughter erupted at Marquis Wensbury’s jest.

I wasn’t an exception, and Ricardo, sitting beside me, chuckled while taking a sip of wine.

Extending my hand for wine, I discreetly scanned the surroundings.

The evening gathering hosted by Marquis Wensbury tonight was a gathering to introduce Maria to people.

Since her debutante ball had gone smoothly, the formal introduction had already been made. Tonight, Marquis Wensbury wanted to bring people closer to her.

This was evident not only from the relatively small number of attendees but also from the significantly younger age group.

Looking at my invitation, it wasn’t addressed to Croft Manor but to me personally. Not to the Marquis and Marchioness but to Lady Bianca Croft.

Ricardo had received a similar invitation. Marquis Wensbury had specifically named Ricardo.

So, I assumed it was the same for the others.

“Winkaiser, my younger brother recently joined the First Knights. Please take care of him.”

Leaning slightly toward Ricardo and making a request for his younger brother was the young Count Kenhill.

He had lost his parents to an epidemic at a young age and inherited the title early. Despite that, he managed his territory well, and lately, he seemed to be involved in trade.

“Oh! My cousin also joined the First Knights this time. Seems like Kenhill Count’s brother and my cousin are comrades in the Knights.”

Interjecting into the conversation was the young heir of the Bailey Marquisate.

Originally, the second-born in noble families was often treated as a spare, unable to inherit the title and land. However, he was an exception.

The Bailey Marquis was concurrently holding the Bailey Marquis title and the Tenwood Viscount title. It was expected that when the Bailey Marquis passed away, the Tenwood Viscount title would go to his son, and accordingly, his territory and subjects would go to him.

“Since you entrusted your precious younger siblings to the First Knights, I should express my gratitude.”

Ricardo smoothly continued the conversation, raising a toast.

Thus, conversations about the leader of the First Knights who had never held a sword, a Marquis who hadn’t touched a sword because he was buried in paperwork, and a precious young heir to a Marquisate who hadn’t experienced any danger flowed naturally.

And, for the sake of my mental well-being, it was better not to listen to that conversation.

When I turned my head to the opposite side, the host of tonight’s gathering came into view.

Maria, dressed in a sky-blue gown with a blue ribbon, sat with an elegant expression. Occasionally nodding and sometimes smiling, she listened to the stories of Viscount Recolade, who sat beside her.

Recolade, speaking to Maria, had a slightly flushed face, probably due to being drunk or because of the lighting.

If not, she was intoxicated by the scent of the woman sitting next to her.

Maria today was more than enough for that.

Perhaps it was due to her past education, her table manners were quite decent, excluding a few minor things. She spoke well, and her provincial accent wasn’t too noticeable.

As the books suggested, Maria quickly learned the ways of the Sprendo social circle and seemed to adeptly integrate herself.

“Are you having a good time?”

While looking at Maria, a voice from the side reached me, and I casually turned my head.

So that it wouldn’t be apparent that I was scrutinizing Maria.

“Yes. Thanks to you, I’m having a pleasant time.”

I responded with a smile towards Raintar.

“How about some wine? I’ve prepared the wine you seemed to enjoy last time, Lady Bianca.”

“Oh, did you prepare it yourself?”

“Just the wine.”

“Yes, it tastes just the way I like it.”

“I’m glad.”

Raintar smiled and refilled my empty glass.

Truthfully, I had been drinking quite a bit today. It was partly because I liked the wine, but more so because there weren’t many people talking to me.

Naturally, Maria didn’t initiate more conversation with me after the initial greeting, and most of the other guests were the same.

Except for a few affirming remarks to Marquis Wensbury’s words and my responses to him, I quietly sipped my wine.

It wasn’t that people were overtly ignoring me, but I could tell that some were feeling uncomfortable.

Nevertheless, I didn’t care about what others said or thought. This gathering was meant to be a friendly one for Maria hosted by the Wensbury Marquis. It was only natural for them to treat me this way, considering the rumors that I had poisoned Maria’s mother.

“Thank you for the invitation.”

But, regardless of what others said or did, I just smiled at Raintar, thinking that this gathering was a great opportunity for me to meet all the suspects on my list.

“By the way, I don’t see the Marquise here.”

“Oh, she’s not feeling well today.”

“Oh no!”

I frowned slightly at Raintar’s words, expressing a sympathetic expression. However, I secretly wondered if it was not that she was unwell, but rather that she was unwilling to come to an event organized for Maria, considering the rumors.

“May I see Lady Marquis before I leave? I’m worried.”

“Oh, there’s really no need to worry.”

Observing Raintar urgently shaking his head, I thought that he might be making excuses.

“But hearing that she’s unwell, I can’t just leave without checking on her. Lady Marquis has shown me so much kindness.”

Usually, I would have backed off, but today was different. Whether it was due to embarrassment from Maria’s appearance in the social circle or a desire to avoid rumors, I couldn’t afford to miss the chance to meet the elusive Lady Marquis, who hadn’t been seen in public or at gatherings.

“It’s not that serious.”

Looking at Raintar with pleading eyes, I conveyed that I really wanted to see Lady Marquis.

“B-Bianca, if you say so, I will inquire with my mother.”

“Oh, really? Please do.”

With the thought of meeting Lady Marquis, I smiled widely, and Raintar also smiled slightly, nodding his head.

“I’ll freshen up for a moment and be back.”

After confirming the meeting with Lady Marquis, I stood up to end the conversation with Raintar . I went to the powder room set up for guests, fixed my makeup, and sat there for a moment.

Laughter echoed from the main gathering area, where the lively Marquis Wensbury shared some interesting stories.

Before returning to the gathering, I checked my reflection in the mirror once again, carefully.

While checking myself, the door to the powder room quietly opened. When I turned my head out of habit, Maria was standing there.

“…”

“…”

We just looked at each other without saying a word. To be more precise, Maria glared at me as if she hated me, and I looked at her as if I found her pitiful.

“You dare come here so shamelessly.”

“I’m here because I received an invitation.”

I casually responded to Maria’s words as if I didn’t care about what she said.

“Aren’t you afraid of the heavens?”

“Do I need to be afraid?”

“Yes. Right now, you probably think there’s nothing to fear in the world. With the mighty power and wealth of your prestigious family. But the truth will be revealed someday.”

Maria spoke like a determined heroine, burning with a sense of duty to defeat the wicked villain.

Ah, rather than ‘like a determined heroine,’ was she a real ‘heroine’?

“The truth… As if you know what the truth is.”

“At least I’m closer to the truth than you are. You, who killed my mother with a wicked heart and tried to cover it up with the family’s power, are farther away from the truth than I am.”

With a small fist clenched, despite her small stature, Maria stood tall, and for a moment, she looked like a goddess of justice.

The problem was that she was not only a blind goddess of justice but also seemed to be wielding her sword in the wrong direction.

“I genuinely hope you find the truth.”

I expressed my wish to the blind goddess of justice.

“Are you mocking me right now?”

However, it seemed that the goddess was not only blind but also deaf.

“No. I sincerely support you. I also wish for you to find the truth.”

“What I’m looking for is not the truth. I already know the truth. What I’m looking for is evidence. Evidence that can expose your true self to the whole world.”

Maria glared at me fiercely.

The blind and deaf goddess seemed to be quite bloodthirsty.

And I, the prophet, knew that the goddess would ultimately find no evidence and that the prophecy would lead to me passing judgment on the goddess myself.

“No, Maria.”

I approached her.

“What you should be searching for is the truth.”

I, the prophet, gave true guidance to the blind goddess.

May the goddess open her eyes and ears.

Thus, let there be light.

“Smile Love”